Doin Wild Lines

Chappy: Well, the regular season sure didn’t end the way I’d hoped it would for the Raiders, but honestly I wasn’t too surprised as they came up short in way too many games, and probably didn’t deserve to win the West just like the Broncos didn’t either. This was by far my best regular season of betting since we’ve been keeping track of our records, so hopefully it keeps on going in the playoffs as well where everyone has to just win baby!

By: I really wish I could have joined Chappy for these picks more consistently this season, but unfortunately work got in the way. We all have our own burdens. Anyway, Chappy’s been quite impressive in terms of his overall record, which more than carries the load for both of us. I hope my last minute playoff run can beef up my season record. To the lines!

Last week: Chap (4-2)

Overall: Chap (50-35-4) By (27-20)

Cincinnati @ Houston (-3).

Chappy picks Cincy (+3). This might be the most balanced match up of the weekend, and by that I mean these teams are very well balanced in that they don’t do anything poorly. Solid defenses, solid running games, and solid special teams. The X-factor all year for Cincy has been Dalton though. He doesn’t look like a rookie anymore, and is showing that he should be highly considered for the rookie of the year by leading this team that nobody gave a chance to the playoffs. Not sure why, but I see Cincy taking it to Arian Foster by putting 9 in the box and doubling Andre Johnson with the remaining two guys and daring Yates to do something. TJ Yates hasn’t shown me anything to think he can pull out this win, even at home against a team with the same amount of playoff experience as them.

By picks Cincinnati (+3). Congratulations to the Houston Texans, they finally did it. All those past seasons of invalid hype has culminated to this, their first post season appearance in franchise history. Unfortunately for them, it won’t get past Saturday. In any other season in which Cam Newton wasn’t a rookie, Andy Dalton would be the best first year player, and despite his recent bout with the flu, I trust him tossing it to A.J. Green over T.J. Yates tossing it to Andre Johnson and his gimp leg. The Bengals are balanced on both sides of the ball, and if they can contain Arian Foster, they should be able to pull off the mild upset.

Detroit @ New Orleans (-11.5)

Chappy picks Detroit (+11.5). I’m not going to say the Lions will win, but if there’s one lesson we’ve learned from them is that this team is never out of a game. Teams that score a lot in the 4th quarter tend to cover spreads quite often. The Stafford-Megatron connection has been huge these last few weeks (pretty much won me a fantasy playoffs), and I don’t see the Saints being able to stop it enough to cover this spread. Brees and Stafford will both get theirs against not so great defenses. I’d almost say the surer bet in this game is the over on points even with it being at 59.5!

By picks Detroit (+11.5). First of all, let me state that I was pro Detroit Lions before the season began, and although there are some class act players in this organization, it only takes a few bad apples to ruin the bunch. In every national televised game featuring the Lions this season, there have been breakouts of temper tantrums similar to that of a child, a disgusting sight to see from a large, grown man. Anyway, I’m not as big a fan now. As much as Drew Brees has been lights out throwing the ball as of late, 11.5 points is hard to cover in a playoff game, especially against another high scoring dome team. Saints win by 7.

Atlanta @ NY Giants (-3)

Chappy picks Atlanta (+3). A lot of people are saying that the Giants are making a run like they did in 2007, but I don’t buy it. That year was ridiculously lucky, and I think they had a better all around team then especially in the running game. I feel like this is finally the time for Matt Ryan to get a playoff win. The Giants secondary isn’t as good as Roddy White and Julio Jones are, and the routes they often run are short ones that will negate some of that Giants pass rush. I still never understood why a team with a worse record should ever have a home playoff game, but whatever it seems to happen every year now…

By picks NY Giants (-3). Is it time to jump back on that Matty Ice bandwagon? Not quite. As much as I like Atlanta and the makeup of their team, I just feel like the Giants are clicking on all cylinders now. Victor Cruz might be the most explosive player in the game right now and I predict a big game from him, in fact more specifically, a game changing play from him. Plus it’s tough for a dome team to travel on the road to cold climates come January and try to steal one from a veteran team.

Pittsburgh @ Denver (+8.5)

Chappy picks Denver (+8.5). I’m not sold on Denver winning this game, but the way Rothlisberger has played the last few weeks I wouldn’t be shocked if he throws a few picks to the ball hawking Denver defense that will keep it close. Tebow should have more opportunities to make plays throwing the ball since Clarke is out for this game. That being said, he probably won’t throw that much regardless of who is in the secondary no matter how much Elway wants him to throw. Win or lose, I bet all we hear about next week is what happened in this game to Tebow…

By picks Denver (+8.5). I’m not making this pick for the spread, I actually think Tim Tebow can pull this off. The Broncos have lost three straight and only deserve to be in the post season because the Chargers and Raiders ended up being greater disappointments. But this is a new stage, and even more so, this is Tebow Time. Denver’s defense is good enough to keep the game close late, and if that’s the case, Tebow and company pull it off. If you don’t think so, you’re obviously not a person of faith.

chappy 81 Can Tebow going 6/17 for 65yds , TD’s and 1INT give the Broncos a victory ? Somewhat resembling his numbers in part over the course of this season at times . Crazy off (NFL) season already don’t you think with the coach bloodletting front office ? It looks also as if the NBA has taken note with Paul Westphal of the Sacramento Kings being the first coaching casualty of the season …… fired by the front office led by GM Geoff Petrie . tophatal ………….

“TJ Yates hasn’t shown me anything to think he can pull out this win” except for beating Cincinnati once already this season with a last minute TD drive in Cincy.

The Falcons got bounced last year in the playoffs when they played a pass-oriented team because they couldn’t get to the quarterback with a pass rush. They still can’t do that and Eli threw for the fourth most yards in the NFL this year. I think this is a bad matchup on the road for Atlanta and New York pulls out a win.